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Tuesday, 29 December 2009

The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg

From Amazon: Penny is sick of boys and sick of dating. So she vows: no more. It's a personal choice. . .and, of course, soon everyone wants to know about it. And a few other girls are inspired. A movement is born: The Lonely Hearts Club (named after the band from Sgt. Pepper). Penny is suddenly known for her nondating ways... which is too bad, because there's this certain boy she can't help but like...

In The Lonely Hearts Club, Elizabeth Eulberg focuses on the strength of friendship, and how that will always be more important than a high school boyfriend who, more than likely, you won't remember in a few years. She's written a fun, lighthearted book that I'm sure hundreds of teenage girls will relate to. After all, who hasn't been hurt by a boy you thought was the one?

Penny Lane Bloom has her heart broken by her childhood sweetheart, and swears off boys for good. Her new outlook on life leads to the creation of The Lonely Hearts Club -- a club that soon grows in popularity and includes a good portion of McKinley High's female population. It's a genius idea and, as I mentioned above, encourages Penny and her friends to turn to each other, rather than their latest guy who's only after one thing. It's like attack of solidarity and sisterhood, and it's a fantastic message to girls everywhere. Hoes over bros, indeed.

Penny's Beatles-obsessed parents are a fantastic addition to the character list, and their tendency to be slightly embarrassing is a constant source of humour. I think I related to them the most, because I know what it's like to love something as much as they love The Beatles. A true love of music, books or a TV show, or whatever it might be, is the best feeling in the world. It can take over your life, yes, but you never get that much enjoyment from anything else. At least, I don't. (Special thanks go to Joss Whedon and Stephenie Meyer for my obsessions!)

Everything that Penny, Tracy and Diane learn about friendship, love and boys is made possible through joining The Lonely Hearts Club. Lifelong bonds are formed, and they come away with the knowledge that it's alright to do things for themselves.

The Lonely Hearts Club is a great read for fans of intelligent, realistic fiction, and Eulberg's writing is brilliant. I can't wait to read whatever she writes next, and I hope it'll be just as good as her debut offering.